Tap fitting for liquid containers and barrels or kegs



Sept. 19, ,1944. F. M. SPAYD 2,358,666. TAP FITTING IFORILIQUID CONTAINERS AND BARRELS 0R KEGS Filed July 28. 1942";

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Patented Sept. 19, 1944 TAP FITTING FOR LIQUID CONTAINERS AND BARRELS R KEGS Fred'M. Spayd, VanWert, Ohio, assignor to F. :Spayd Engineering Corporation, Dayton, Ohio,

a corporation of Ohio v Application July 28, 1942, Serial No. 452,594

11 Claims.

' This invention relates to tap fittings for barrels, drums, or kegs, andmore particularly to tap fittings used in connection with the dispensing of beer and other liquids from suchdeyices.

This invention isv an. improvement over thetap fitting shownin my UniteilStates Patent-(No. 2,083,281 dated June 8,1937. 7 I

My present invention is much more. economical to manufacture and has. many advantages over the taps and fittings now beingused by dispensers.

of liquids from barrels and kegs. It also permits of the use of standardtaps now on the market,

but in case a dispenser does not have a standard tap, my novel tap is used which can be made at a very much lowercost' than the standard tap or the tap shown in my above mentioned patent.

My tself-closing valve permitsremoval of the drafttube for cleaning at anytime without any, appreciable amount of pressure in the barrel, and

my locking meansin the valve is particularly useful as it prevents any one from opening the valve? when the tap has been removed, either for use onanother barrel or after. the barrel has .been emptied and is ready for shipment backto the brewery.

This locking of the valve is a great advantage because no one during shipment of the empty barrel can get the valve open, and therefore no foreign matter canget into the barrel. Or if a' barrel is onlyv partially full and the dispenser wishes to tap another barrel" he can immediately .change histap to saidother'barrel and the first barrel will notonly be sealed air-tight by the valve but, the valve will be looked as. the tap or adapter effects a locking of the valve at the time of removal thereof.

The above advantages amount to a great saving in time andlabor when thebarrels are cleaned before refilling, and also amount to a great saving in money to the dispenser, because withthe.

barrel sealedand locked, no foreign matter can get into thebeer or otherliquid and there will be no escaping of the pressure in thebarrel and" consequently no-loss of'material due to spoilage by suchforeign matter or loss of pressure, which latter causesbeer -togo flat, and flat beer Therefore, one object of my invention is the provision of a novel tap fitting through which a draft tube can be inserted, said fitting having a self-closing valve adapted to be opened by the draft tube upon its insertion into the barrel, said valve being normally closed and locked, but bein'g" adapted to be unlocked by the tap when it is inserted therein and turned, said valve automaticallyclosing and seating, itself in positionto be again locked when thedraft tube is withdrawn, so that when the tap is ;turned' back into a position to bewithdrawn the valve will again be lockedin closed position, by such turning; ofthe;

tap, thuspreventing any-loss of pressure in the barrel: or keg.

7 Another object is the ing means for the valve for the purpose of preventing loss of pressure. in the barrel and also for preventing any foreign matter from getting into the barrel.

Another object is the provision of a novel tap;

to operate the locking means for the valve.

Another, object is to provide'a novel adapter" which also can be used to/operate the locking means of the valve so that standard'taps may be. the dispenser has; such:

used if necessary, where taps on hand.

Another object is'the provision of ,a novel fit;--

tingto support.said'selfeclosing valve and to receive the novel tap or thenovel adapter, whereby the valve may be unlocked.

A further objectis to provide a novel bush, to be inserted into a wooden barrel or keg, to

receive said nove'lfitting; said'bush being pro-f vided' with a threaded portion to receive a threaded retaining ring to retain the novel fitting the tap.

A further object is to provide a novel bush to in proper position" in the bush ready to receive be inserted into a metal barrel or keg in lieu of" a wooden barrel or keg, said bush also having aits threaded retaining ring to'holdsaid fitting in proper position-ready to receive the tap.-

Another object is the provision of a novel valve carrying al atch or 'locking'device anda keeper in the novel fl locking device.

A still further object of'my novel invention is the provision ofmeans' carried by the novel tap for operating the latch or locking device of the valve.

' With these and other incidental objects in view my invention. includes certain novel. features of construction and combinations of parts, the essential elements of which are set forth in appended claims, andfa referred'form of embodiment of which is hereinafter described with ma. erence to the drawing which accompanies and,

forms part of this specification,

Of said drawing: Fig. 1 is-a plan view of my-novel tap fitting,

showing the valve in locked position.

provision of a novel lockv ting to cooperate with the barrels, and the retaining ring for the tap fitting.-

Fig. 5 is a section on line 5-5 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows, showing the valve base construction and the spring for closing the valve, and also holding the valve in a position to k be closed when the draft tube; has been with-T drawn.

Fig. 6 is a top view of the adapter to be used in the tap fitting so that a standard tap can be used, said adapter being the means by which the locking device of the valve is operated.

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the adapter for the standard tap and to operate the valve lock, and also shows the bayonet connections thereon whereby said adapter tap fitting. 1

Fig. 81s a view, partly'in section showing how a standard tap may be used and connected to the adapter in the tap fitting which is mounted in a bush in a wooden barrel or keg.

I Fig. 9 is a view showing the novel tap in the tap fitting which is mounted in a bush in a metal barrel or keg, a part of which is here'sh'own in section. v r I Fig. -10 is a section'online l0|0 of Fig-1l, looking in the direction of the arrows, of the novel tap showing the bayonet connections to connect thet'ap' to the tap fitting before inserting the draft tube. I

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary view of the lower part of my novel tap of Fig. 8, showing one of the bayonet connections and the means for operating the locking device ofthe valve:

GENERAI; Dnsc'nirrron ln ,generallmy invention-includes means for use in connection with the dispensing of liquids from barrels or-kegs which have'apressure therein for the purpose of forcing the liquids out of said barrels or kegs when the same have been properly tapped, said means comprising a novel tap, tap fitting, bush for either wooden or metal barrels, a self-closing valve :for the fitting, and a novel locking device for the valve adapted to be operated by the tan or the adapter fora standard tap.

Thus, my invention provides a novel quickly attachable and detachable means whereby a barrel maybe tapped to dispense the liquid therein, and furthermore provides a novel and highly desirable locking device in connection with the. valve for the purposes broadly stated above.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Bush In Fig. 8 there is shown ascrew type of bush in a wooden barrel headZ l The barrel staves areindicated as 22 and the barrel bottom is shown as 23. v

The bush 26 has a threaded counterbore 24 to receivea threaded retainin ring 25 to retain a tap fitting, later described, in proper position against a shoulder 26 of the bush 20. The bush 20 has a bore or hole 21 through which said fitting projects into the barrel.

In Figs. 4 and 9 there is shown a bush 36 for use in a metal-barrel, the head 3| of which is may i be connected to the.

shown in section in Fig. 9. This bush 30 has a threaded counterbore 32 to receive a threaded retaining ring 33' to retain the above mentioned fitting in proper position against a shoulder 34 of the bush 30. The bush 30 has a bore or hole 35 through whichsaid tap fitting projects into the barrel.

1 J Tap? fitting g A tap fitting 40 is shown in Figs. 1, 2, 4, 8 and 9 and has shoulder 4| which rests against theshoulder26 of the bush 2!] or the shoulder 34 of the bush 30 depending upon the land of barrel being tapped, that is, whether it is wooden barrel or a metal barrel. A shoulder 42 fits the bores 21 and the" top, or vertical entrance to the slot 45 being.

larger than the vertical: entrance to the slot 46. These slots are to receive connections, on an adapter for a standard'tap, and also connections on a specia1 tap, whichadapter andtaps will be 7 later described.

The tap fitting 40 has a ring shoulder 41 between an upper bore 48 and a lower bore 49. The fitting 40 also has a ledge 50 which is formed to house and support a self-closing valve, to be later described.

Self-closing valveand locking device therefor 8 and 9, andinclu'des a valve base 56 having a flange 51 and a lip 58. The'flange 51 is shown in section inFig. 5 and pivots on a rod 59 carried by the 'sidesof the ledge 56. A coil torsion spring 60 wrap d around the rod 59 has one end6l projecting through the ledge 50' and its other end 62 projecting through the base '56. This spring 60 holds the valve in the position shown in Figs. 2 and 4 to keep the barrelsealed.

In such position a washer 63 completely closes the bore 49 of the tap fitting 40. This washer 63 is mounted on a stud 64 between flanges 65 and 66 thereof and the stud 64 also has a tenon'Gl a hole of the same shape, in the base 56.

The top of the stud 64 has a tapped hole to re-' ceive a screw 10 with a large head H which holds a turnable locking disk 12 against the top of the stud 64. This locking disk 12 has a locking lip 13 cooperating with a pin 14 projecting into the bore 49 from the fitting 40. Another lip 15 extends from the disk 12. The lips 13 and 15 (Fig. l) are arranged so that a finger, to be later described, can be inserted between them to turn the disk 12 and move the locking lip' 13 above the pin 14 to positively lock the valve in closed position as the tap or the tap adapter, as the case may be, is turned back before removing the same from the fitting'40. Also this finger, referred to, is used to turn the disk 12 to unlock the valve prior to the insertion of the draft tube, later described.

Tap

A tap is shown in Figs. 9, l0 and 11 and has the usual arm 8| for a pressuregas supply tube 82 so that air pressure may be applied to the outside of the draft tube 83 and the inside of the tap 80, that is between the draft tubeand the tap,

tofthe interiorof the barrel. The space between the draft tube 83" and the tap 80 issealedat the top by' the usual compressible washer not shown) which is pressed-into a sealing position bye-thumb nut 84. The draft tube 83 has a sefiesor holes 85 near the bottom thereof and at its top (Figs 8) 'has the usual control valve 86 and. dispensing tube 8'I.= -lThe lower part of the tap 80. has: lugs 90 and 9I'to fit the vertical sections of the bayonet slots 45 and respectively of .Figs'xrand 4, of; the fitting.40*wherebyi the tap 80 :may be inserted into the fitting 4,0 and turned. tolockit therein by means of :the bayonet slots 45 and 46 andthe lugs 90 and 9|. The tap' ail-turnably fits in the bore .48 of the fitting, 40 andia compressible wash-s er-92 restson and is; pressed; againstthe ring shoulder 41 when-the tap 80 isinserted into the fitting 40 and turned to locking position.

The tap 80- has a smaller section 93 which prop- 60. I As the draft tube'83-iisso'moved, it contacts the head II of the valve androcksthevalve counterclockwise to the'position shown in Fig. 9, and the pressure may the n be applied to the inside of the barrel and the liquid thereindispensed through the tube- 83 and the tube 82. Such movement of the valve puts ex'tra tension on the spring fifl and When 'thetdr'aft tube 83 is Withdrawn, the valve,.und er the influence of said spring 60, immediately closes and seals the'bore 49 of the fitting 40 thus preventing any loss of pressure in the barrel ancl also preventing any foreign matter from getting into thebarrel. I

Now when the tap 80 is turned baekso that it can be removed, the fingersd contacts the lip I3 and turns the locking disk 12 to again force the lip I3 over the pin 'I4'to positively lock the valve drawn towar s by theturningor the teeming nlii'f l fil'. i 1 The "adapter" I08' has; a large lug "l lzwrigst e and '7) and a smaller me 1 I31 to fit the bayonet slots '4 Sand la r-respectively of the tap fitting 10 tolock the adapter in the fittimg; and compress a flexible :washer I I4'tightly again'stthe ring s'houl der 41 in 'the same manner asthe taptll-pre'sses it's'washerszagainst this shoulder 41. I 5 I-"I'h'e main l-body'of theadapter I08 turnably fits in the bore.48 and a-smaller' section 'II=5 of in closed position. The tap "80 is now in such" and lock the valvein-amanner similar to theop eratlon of my novel tap 8 0,- :I have provideda,

special adapter to be interposed between ,the.

standard tap and the. fitting 40. a 1

. In Fig. 8 I haveshown a standard tap I00 with its usual pressure .7 gas supply arm IM and tube I02, and also the regular thumb nut I03 to seal the top of. the tap I00 around the draft tube 83.

The usual coupling nut I04 is used to draw lugs- I05 of a coupling I06 tightly against the under-s sides of shoulders I0I of-an adapter I (Figs. 6, '7 and 8), thus squeezing a compressible washer I09 tightly between the adapter I08 and the bot-, tom N0 of the standard tap I00. Theshoulders IIII have stop lugs I'I I against which thelugs I05 of the coupling I06 stop so that the latter .willb'e barreLa, 2

theadapter fits the bore 49. A finger II6 of said section :I I5=is inserted between the lips "I3 and I5 '0fvthe valve locking 'disk IZ tounlock-and'lock the valve byturning the adapter: I08 in the same manner as thel'turning of the. special tap 80: lock and locks said valve" by -the finger '94 of saidttap'ami' I 'Afterithe coupling I06 has been tightly secured to the tap I00'by the nut I:04,-:the whole -unit,-in' eluding the tap I 00-1and the: adapter: I 08; is" used in the same manner :as: thetap 80 so thatthe draft tub'e 03=can be inserted-through the tap. Iv and the adapter108 to dispensethe liquid in the OPERATION v a f A detailed operation or thedevices described above is believed to be unnecessary as their operations and-functions have been clearly'stated alongwith the" detailed descriptions of the same. However, it may be -well"to state here that my novel device'sprovide 'fortheduick tapping or any barrel or keg; Whether it be wooden ormetal, to dispense the llq'uids thereini And runner more, when either thesp eci'al tap 80' or the stand ard tap I00 is inserted 'in"the tap fitting and then turned to'loc'kitselff the act of looking it'- self automatically unlocksthe valve in the bot ,to'n iqf the tap fitting 40 so that the draft tube 83;

canbe inserted relorke'g'. v

' Moreover after thedraft tube 8 3 11945 been withdrawn from'eitherthe tap-'30 or the stand through th tap an into the bar ard tap I00 and said tap is turned back to unlocked position ready to be removed, such" tuming back automatically and simultaneously locks the valve in the bottom ofthetetiafitting 40 to positively seal thebar'rel or keg, to prevent loss of pressure from the barrelor keg and also to prevent any foreign -matter'irom getting into saidbarrel'or keg.

' ."Due'to. my :novel valve and lockin'g'me'ans there fore; air*cann'ot'get"into'the barrel or'othercontainer and therefore'gthere will be no sourin or fermentation of any small amount of beer orother liquid that' might be' leftin said container. Nor

will mold grow on the 'top of the leavings in-a eon tainer, and also mold will not' grow' on the sides of the barrel orcontainer due to, the airtight'con dition in which thezcontainerf-is left after the tap has been-withdrawn, because as has already been ipointed, out; the withdrawal of the tap causes an automatic lockingof the valve. 1 While the form of device herein illustrated and describedis admirably adapted to fulfil the objects primarily stated, it is .to be understood that I do not .wishgto limit my invention to the specific device shown," as itis susceptible of embodiment in other forms, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow. I i

What is'clai'me'd; isz' 1. In a device of the class described for dis-' pensing liquidfrom a eontainerby the pre'ssure and/or gravity method'said container having a bush, the combination of a tap fitting mounted inisaid bush; a. self-closingvalveparried by the tap fitting; locking means on the valve forlock: ing the same closed; a tap adapted to, be inserted into saidtap fitting andthen turned; means carried bythe tap to lock said tap inthe tap fitting when-said tap-is turned; and means connected to saidtap andm'ovedzinto cooperativerelation with saidzlocking means for the valve upon insertion of the tap into said tap fitting to automatically operate said locking means for the valve whentheitap is turned to "lock itself in the tap fitting. 2. In a deviceof the classdescribed for dispensingliqui'd from a containerbythe pressure and/or gravitylmethodsaid container having a bush, the combination of a tap fitting mounted in said *bush and having bayonet slots therein; a self-closing valve carried by said fitting means carried. by. the valve for normally locking the valve-closed; a-tap adapted to be inserted into the tap fitting and then turned; means connected to? .saidl-tap for 'cooperating with said bayonet slots'to guide the tap in its insertion intosaidfitting and to lock thefitap inthe fitting when turned in said bayonet slots; and a device connected to said tap to automatically unlock said valve when the tap is turned tolocking position in said tap fitting and to automaticallylock said valve when said tap is turned back; togits unlocked position prior, to its removal from s aid tap fitting.

.3. In a device of the class described, for dis-v pensing liquidsfrom a. container, the combination of, a bush for the container; tap'fitting mounted insaid bush;- retaining means to hold the tap. fitting firmly in said bush; means to prevent said fitting from turning in said bush; a self-closing valve carried by said fitting, said valveincluding a pivoted base supporting: astud carrying a compressible sealing means; and. a locking member turnably mounted on said stud and normally in a position to lock the'valve' closed, said member'adapted to be turned relatively to said stud to unlock the valve so thatit may beopened. r 1' 1 1 ,iL-Ina device of the class: described for dis-r ipensing liquids from acontainer, the combina-' tion of a bush for said container; a tap'fitting mounted in'said bush; retaining meansjtohold the tap fitting firmly insaid bush; means to prevent said fitting from turning in said bush; a self-closing valve carried by said .fitting, said valvei in cludinga pivoted base supporting a stud carrying. a compressible sealing means; a locking member carried by said stud and normally locking said valve in closed position; a tap insertable into saidtap fitting and turnable therein after insertion thereof; means on said tap to lock the same in saidfitting as the tap is turned; and

means on said tap to'cooperate with said locking I member to unlock and'lock said valve.

"5. In a device of the class" described for dismember carried by said stud and normally looking said valve in closed position; and tapping means to cooperate with said locking member to operate the latter to unlock and lock said valve. i I

6. In a device of the-class described, for dispensing liquids froma container having a bush,

the combination of; a tap fitting mounted in said bush; a valve carried by said tap fitting and adapted to close the bottom thereof; a locking member carried by said valve and normally locking said valve in closed position, said-member having two lips, one cooperating with means on said tap fitting to normally lock the valve 'in closed position; and rotatabletapping means having a finger projecting between said two lips and adapted to contact one of-them to'op'erate said locking member to move the other lip out of cooperating relation with said means on the tap fitting to unlock said valve and adaptedto contact said other lip to operate the locking member to move the last mentioned lip into 00 operative relation with said means on the tap fitting to lock said valve. I f I 7. In a device of the class described, for'dispensing liquids from a. container having a bush, the combination of; a tap fitting mounted in said bush; a valve carried by said tap fitting and'adapted to close the bottom thereof; a lock-' ing member carried by said valve and normally locking said valve in closed position, said mem-i ber having a notched lip cooperating with means on said tap fitting to normally lock said valve in closed position; and turnable tapping means having a finger projecting into said notched lip to operate said locking member to unlock and lockthe valve .when .said tapping means is turned. j 8. In a device of the cla'ss described for dispensing liquids from'a container having a bush, the combination of a tap fitting mounted in said bush; a valve having an extension projecting into said tap fitting to close the bottom of said tap fitting; turnable tapping means projecting into the tap fitting opposite said ex: tension and adapted to receive adraft tube; rotatable means on.-s aid:valve extension. to prevent insertion of the draft tube into the container before the tapping means is turned .to properly locate it in said tap fitting; and means carried byfthe tapping means toengage and operate said rotatable means whenthe tapping means is turned in the fitting to render the rotatable preventing-means ineffective, to permit insertion of the draft tube. 9. In a device of the class described for dispensing liquids from a container by the pressure and/or gravity method, said container having a bush, the combination of a tap fitting supported by said bush; a self-closing valve-carried by the fitting to close the bottom thereof; locking means for the valve to lock said valve closed; a tap insertable into the tap fitting and turnable therein; and means connectedto said tap and cooperating with said locking means to operate the sameby turning the tap. 5 10. In a device of the class described, for dispensing liquids from a container, the combination of a bushfor the container; a tap fitting mounted in said bush, said tap fitting having an internal annular shoulder; a compressible sealing member supported by said shoulder; retain-" ing means to hold the'tap fitting firmly in said bush; aself-closin valve carried by said fitting and having a compressible sealing means; a locking member carried by the valve and nor-' mally locking said valve in closed position; 'a

tap insertable into said tap fitting and turnable therein after insertion thereof, said tap having an external annular shoulder engaging said compressible member; means on said tap to lock the same in said fitting and to cause the external annular shoulder to compress said sealing member to form a, seal between the tap and the tap fitting as the tap is turned; and means on said tap to cooperate with said locking member to unlock and lock said valve.

11. In a device of the class described, for dispensing liquids from a container, the combination of a bush for the container; 3, tap; a fitting mounted in said bush; retaining means to hold the fitting firmly in said bush; means to pre- 

